Mining companies raise concerns about escalating illegal mining activities

Two mining companies have expressed their concerns regard­ing the escalating activities of illegal miners within their concessions, emphasising the need for a uni­fied response.

Gold Fields Ghana Limited (GFGL), Tarkwa, and Anglogold Ashanti Iduapriem (AAI) Mine Ghana have indicated that these unlawful operations represent a significant threat to their invest­ments.

During a media tour organ­ised by the Ghana Chamber of Mines (GCM) for the Journalists of Business Advocacy (JBA) last Thursday, Catherine Kuupol Kuutor, the Mine Manager of Tarkwa Mine, described the situa­tion as a deeply troubling trend.

She indicated that the Tarkwa Mine depended on the govern­ment and the Ghana Chamber of Mines for the safeguarding of mining enterprises.

“We are indeed facing chal­lenges with our strategies, and Gold Fields Tarkwa Mine is no exception. However, we are mak­ing every effort to ensure that we coexist harmoniously within the community. If we find it neces­sary to raise our voices, we will do so at the appropriate time to secure the essential support from the regulators to safeguard the mines,” she indicated.

Ms Kuutor stated that the mine was not under any obliga­tion to relinquish any concessions, unused lands, or areas, clarifying that such matters were governed by regulations established by the state.

She said the mine’s prima­ry concern regarding this new development was related to safety issues, noting that individuals trespassing on a mining conces­sion without adequate knowledge to protect themselves represented a risk to the industry.

Ms Kuutor further stated that the Tarkwa Mine was particularly worried about the potential harm to individuals on their conces­sions, especially in the absence of sufficient buffer zones to facilitate coexistence.

The ultimate, the manager said, was for Tarkwa Mine, a responsible mining company, “to ensure the safety of our activities and minimise effects on people, and that’s why, when it is not safe, we will not tolerate it.”

The Acting Managing Director of Anglogold Ashanti Iduapriem, Mr Abraham Osei Badu, noted that illegal mining represents a significant threat to both busi­nesses and the environment.

He noted that, “A prima­ry concern is the pollution of streams within the mine’s conces­sion area. We have consistently maintained the cleanliness of our streams; however, some are being affected by activities originating from areas distant to our oper­ations, resulting in contamina­tion that ultimately impacts our concession.”

Mr Badu elaborated on the dire implications of water source contamination for local com­munities that depend on these water bodies for agricultural and domestic purposes, particularly for the application of pesticides on vegetables.

This situation, he said, posed a health hazard to the entire com­munity, reinforcing their strong opposition on illegal mining activities.

Ahmed Nantogmah, Director of External Relations at GCM, said the GCM-JBA tour was de­signed to provide journalists with insights into the operations of the mines and to distinguish them from other industry participants

 FROM CLEMENT ADZEI BOYE, TARKWA

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